Celebrate Pride month by enjoying a rainbow of plant-based food
while learning about LGBTQ history. This free event is open to the
public, and everyone is welcome whether or not they are vegan, LGBTQ, or
bring a dish to share.

Since dietitians encourage everybody to
“eat the rainbow” by incorporating colorful fruits and vegetables in our
diets, and since we all have LGBTQ people in our families and
communities, we hope to see a big crowd at the Pride Month Vegan
Potluck.The rainbow flag has served as a symbol of LGBTQ pride.
LGBTQ people and their friends, family members, and allies recognize
June as “Pride Month” in remembrance of the events of June 1969, which
are seen as the beginning of the modern movement against discrimination
based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In celebration
of both Pride Month and the rainbow of flavors offered by fruits and
vegetables, potluck participants are encouraged to bring dishes that
incorporate as many colors as possible. Prizes will be awarded to the
most colorful entree, side dish, and dessert.VINE Sanctuary co-founder Pattrice Jones,
who has participated in the LGBTQ movement since the 1970s and has
taught LGBTQ Studies courses, will offer an engaging talk on the history
of LGBTQ activism between entrees and dessert. This event is
co-sponsored by the Springfield Town Library, and a reading list of
relevant titles available at the library will be provided.

Since
several volunteers will be bringing more than one dish to share,
everyone is welcome to attend, even if they do not bring something to
share. The only requirement is that any food brought to the potluck must
be vegan, which means free from any animal products such as meat,
dairy, or eggs. People who would like to try making a vegan dish but
don’t know where to start can visit VegWeb.com or VegKitchen.com to search for recipes.

VINE
Sanctuary is an LGBTQ-founded non-profit farmed animal refuge based in
Springfield, Vermont. More than 600 animals — including birds, goats,
sheep and cows seized by Vermont authorities in cases of extreme cruelty
or neglect — live at the 100+ acre sanctuary. In addition to caring for
sanctuary residents and promoting respect for animals, VINE advocates
for social and environmental justice. As an LGBTQ-founded animal
rescue organization, VINE has worked for many years to understand and
explain the linkages among animal exploitation and social injustice as
well as the benefits of a unified effort to end violence of all kinds.
Brochures about those linkages will be available at the event, and we
expect the resulting discussion to be lively.